AN: Well I'm back after a week of inactivity because I found this to be kind of hard to write. It's defintiley shorter than most chapters, but that works in it's favor for reasons you will get at the end. The next post I make should be "The End" if everything goes to plan, but I also have another fanfic in the works that is for once not Steven Universe based. Yes, I know shocker. I'll give you updates as I finish the first couple of chapters.

The air's grown colder. The green leafs have changed to a collage of red, orange and yellow matching the sunsets. The air of the town seems to change from that boisterous madness of the heat, to this slowed down relaxation. Ornaments of sheets with faces, bats- not to be confused with the wooden ones, and there's this smell that constantly lingers everywhere that grades on my senses. I'm fine with everything else, the cold bothers me slightly, but that goddamn smell that's everywhere is goddamn annoying. Though I don't notice it when I'm lost in my thoughts as I am now. All my thoughts aimed right at homeworld.

"Hey, Steven," Connie greets with a cup in her hand which I retreat away from," you okay?"

I shake my head in response," what is it?"

I point to the cup she has in her hand," the pumpkin spice latte?"

I nod still pulling back," oh right, better senses humans," she notes continuing to drink the latte.

When she finishes her drink I grab onto it and create flames turning the drink into black ashes. "Woah, you've gotten better at that."

"Yep! This is the first power I discovered for myself, so I want to at least learn how to use it." The jovial tone hiding the fact that just doing something that small tired me out.

"How's it going with the gems?"

The questions throws me off a bit," well, it's going fine…"

"You sure."

"Well a small schism formed between me and Amethyst, but for the most part that's patched up."

"What happened?"

"...well. I said some things to Amethyst, the purple one, she got mad, we fought and then settled it with a talk."

"Well I'm glad you managed to work it out."

"I guess…"

"...you still don't sound okay; are you sure everything's going fine," she ask.

"Yeah, mostly, what I'm thinking about is something else."

"What is it?"

I've mentioned Homeworld to her before; explained even less, but I can't let this eat away at me forever. I already am aware of the consequences of keeping things in. I speak with a sigh," on homeworld things are different from here. Very different. Homeworld is rigid, unchanging. I'm the biggest change up in Gem history if you discount the rebellion, arguably. But even then I'm told to be exactly like my mother. A strict military leader pursuing new technologies, correcting management failures and leading any army against a rebellion to victory, but here… is so different. People are free to choose what they want to do. Expectations can be shrugged off and it's sometimes encouraged. Even the very planet itself changes."

I sigh once more but with an ever so slight smile," the point I'm trying to make here is that this is the only place where I don't have to be told how to act."

"That's good Steven!"

"But is it?"

"Wha-?"

"You don't get it. Homeworld is rigid. They don't like this, the don't accept this. If it's discovered even as a diamond there'd be...repercussions." It doesn't take anyone with much brains let alone someone as smart as Connie to figure out what I mean.

"Well… why don't you just stay here?"

"Because that means war," I tell her.

The air grows ungodly tense and stiff with the stark words we shared," want to come to the beach with me? Might help take these things off your mind."

"No, thanks. These are things that I may not want on my mind, but I need to sort them through. Thanks for the offer though." With that I wave her goodbye.

I lean against Lion who's still sleeping despite the fact that it's nearly noon. Laying against his soft body I return to the darkest depths of my thoughts. Wondering about homeworld, Earth and everything else. The inter-geopolitics of Homeworlds existence with two Diamonds in an already unstable place. I doubt people actually know I'm even gone. Though it's not like it'd be hard to hide my absence. I didn't exactly do public things to often, so this is just unnoticed. So far the only gem to know where I am is that Lapis Lazuli.

I doubt she's back to Homeworld by now. She can fly fast, but not that fast. The nearest planet we control is still at least a month or two away still. A Month or two away until I have to go back. I clench my fist; a creeping sense of dread infecting my being. No other reason for this than White Diamond. Lion let's ot a surprise grumble that startles me to my feet. Only then I notice the embers slowly rising off of me; calming myself the eventually stop. Am I really that scared f White Diamond I instinctively began creating flames? Sadly the only answer I have for that question is, yes.

I stumble when Lion nudges me," what do you want?"

He doesn't answer, but he begins licking the ground,"... that explains nothing."

"...are you hungry?" I guess and it seems to hit the mark because he throws his head up and gets all excited.

"I hit the head on the nail didn't I?" I nod to myself like I know what I just said, but I'm pretty sure I messed it up.

The streets of Beach City are just as chilly as the car wash. The big donut has signs in the window advertising candy; other stores have costumes hung up. Red and orange leaves blow in the soft wind. And that goddamn pumpkin smell is still everywhere what the fresh heck! Despite being hungry I go over towards the ocean, the salty air mask that infernal smell. Lion does his own thing sniffing the sand then rolling around in it. No matter how long I watch this guy I will never understand anything he does.

"Steven? What are you doing out here?"

"Rose!" I greet hugging her.

"What are you doing out here?"

"At first I was getting some food, but then I decided to come here instead."

"Well…. Do you wanna get some food with me?"

"Uh, sure."

With Rose holding my hand we begin searching for sommme place to eat. It does puzzle me to find out that Rose eats. I have to, but full gems don't. She takes me to this place called Fish Stew Pizza. The place is odd, the food matches it well. I'm not even sure what I'm eating, but it doesn't taste to bad. But that doesn't mean it's not strange.

"Steven, I actually have a gift for," Rose beckons.

"What's a gift?"

"...it's like a tribute in a way, but out of kindness."

"I think I get it."

She reached over into a bag and pulls out a yellow shirt? It's definitely thicker and had a hood attached. And a pocket for both hands in front. " what's that?"

"A sweatshirt."

"A sweatshirt?"

"Yeah, try it on!"

"..how?"

"Like you put on a shirt."

"Not familiar with that process, but I'll try."

I take "Sweatshirt" and try to put it on. It takes a few attempts; I'm not very good at this yet. When I get it on I find it to be like wearing hug. Not very mobile, but warm. "Do you like it," she ask.

"Yeah, it's nice."

"Steven, are you ok?"

"I'm fine, I've just been doing things… and thinking about things."

"Thinking about what?"

"Lapis Lazuli."

"The gem you freed from the mirror?"

I nod," Steven.."

"And Homeworld too. They're coming I know it."

"Don't worry Steven. Everythings going to be alright," she tries to console me.

"But… will it?"

Before she can answer something rumbles the ground and something green, black and white rushes past. "What was that?"

"Steven stay here," Rose tells me rushing outside.

Against my better judgement I go up to the window in front of the store and watch things happen. There's a swarm of small bug like gems each racing forward. Green acid leaking from their mouths leave puffs of smoke on whatever they melt. From here I can watch the Crystal Gems fight. The immaculate swordsmanship of Rose, the skill of Amethyst, the grace of Pearl and the strength of Garnet. What am I doing? Something's not right here. With each of the monsters the defeat there's only a puff of smoke and no gem. Fighting these will solve nothing.

I rush out the door analysing the situation like I was taught. The smaller gems stampeded to the left of the way the Earth's sun rose, so they all came from… the west. I put one foot after the other and head in that direction. Placing one foot after the other heading down roads and onto the beach I find the mother. It's not much different from the other smaller ones. Just a lot bigger. It's maw frothing with acid, white mane shuddering wildly. And it's eyes, it's gem, is in it's mouth.

Darting to the side I roll out fo the way of the creature barreling towards me. Dusting the kicked up sand off of me I carefully watch the corrupted gem. From the clouds of sand green acid flies forward. Sliding under it and I go through the clouds of sand. Vaulting over the beast to get behind it. The only gem it has in it's mouth, and its mouth is covered in acid. ...I can work with this. Grabbing some washed up seaweed I wrap it around my right hand. Waiting for it to turn it's head. It rears at me with a ferocious roar. And there's my chance. Dashing forward. Weaving around the pools of acid. Reaching into its mouth. Taking hold of the green gem. Firmly planting my feet. And pull. Taking the gem right of the corporeal body. And on the cue of the puff of smoke I shatter the gem in my hands.

"STEVEN," I hear Rose call out.